Need help choosing new software for my home studio!

[Ms Lala]

I am a singer/songwriter interested in recording songs at home to submit to industry contacts to sell the writes to the songs. I did my previous recordings on ACID using a bad mic and had to re-record them in a studio and pay for time. I want a set up where I can do a good recording at home, not radio ready but good. I don't use much midi, I primarily use my keyboard, samples, and vocals.
I am considering a package from musicians friend for $600 that includes

Mpowered pro tools7
maudio firewire 410
akg 100 perception mic
mic stand
akg headphones
cord for mic

This seems like good deal but I am open to purchasing other softwares.

 

[jgld]

im using ntrack and like it but im just a newb.

j

 

[ssscientist]

I don't use much midi, I primarily use my keyboard, samples, and vocals.

'I don't use much midi' means 'I don't understand how to use midi, therefore I don't use it.'

Keyboards and samples are both MUCH better off being controlled over a midi wire than being recorded to an audio track. Once you record them to an audio track you are stuck with both the sound and the performance. If you track them as midi data you have control over both until the final mixdown.

Here are links to two good articles on midi basics - part one and part two. They were written before using computers with midi was common, but midi itself hasn't changed and it's important that you get a good grounding in what midi is and what it isn't.

The AKG Perception mic is a good choice, but this is in the same price range and is, in my opinion, a better mic. As a matter of fact, your $600 would probably be better spent on a mic like this, an interface like this and this as the software and use whatever is left over for some closed-cup headphones and a mic cable and stand.

All you need is a way to get good enough quality recordings so they won't get in the way of the song, and the microphone you choose is going to be the key to the whole thing. A good vocal sells a song, and the better the vocal the better the demo will be recieved and the song considered. The software I recommended is shareware, and will export to a standard wav file which can be burned to CD.


.

 

[kojdogg]

i'd be a little wary of those bundles that musicians friend offers, because they often will package one or two things that are desirable (pro tools m-powered, perhaps the firewire 410, perhaps not) with things that they are trying to get rid of and/or have overstock of (i'd venture to say that perception 100).
if you have a decent budget like $600 to start it might be better to do a little more research and pick and choose pieces that best suit your needs. you can get a lot of good information by searching this board-- you are far from the first person here to ask what the best mic is under $x or best entry-level recording daw software, etc. search out those threads-- sometimes people will post soundclips that may give a better idea of how those pieces will sound.

 

[Ms Lala]

thanks for your help. i will look around more before buying the package. i have been researching for a while and am having a hard time selecting on my budget.

 

[Ms Lala]

sscientist- thanks for the info on midid, i don't know much about it

 

[kojdogg]

thanks for your help. i will look around more before buying the package. i have been researching for a while and am having a hard time selecting on my budget.

do you know what gear you used in the studio and were you pleased with the results? even if you can't afford the gear that you used there, if you liked how the recording sounded, folks here might be able to help you to find more affordable gear that will give similar results.

 

[Simman]

For flat out recording audio I use Samplitude 8 with a Delta 1010. Works great never have any issues with it.

 

[Ms Lala]

the studio i went to used pro-tools which is why i was considering getting the m-powered versions. i can't afford the mbox2

 

[kojdogg]

the studio i went to used pro-tools which is why i was considering getting the m-powered versions. i can't afford the mbox2

the software will factor less into the resulting sound than the microphone, preamp, and interface.

 

[kojdogg]

p.s. arrrgggh!